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CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS  
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

NOTE 4 — CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS

Marketing Agent Agreement

UNL is party to a marketing agent agreement, dated as of October 30, 2009, as amended from time to time, with the Marketing Agent and USCF, whereby the Marketing Agent provides certain marketing services for UNL as outlined in the agreement. The fee of the Marketing Agent, which is borne by USCF, is equal to 0.06% on UNL’s assets up to $3 billion and 0.04% on UNL’s assets in excess of $3 billion. In no event may the aggregate compensation paid to the Marketing Agent and any affiliate of USCF for distribution-related services exceed 10% of the gross proceeds of UNL’s offering.

The above fee does not include website construction and development, which are also borne by USCF.

Custody, Transfer Agency and Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreements

USCF engaged The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York corporation authorized to do a banking business (“BNY Mellon”), to provide UNL and each of the other Related Public Funds with certain custodial, administrative and accounting, and transfer agency services, pursuant to the following agreements with BNY Mellon dated as of March 20, 2020 (together, the “BNY Mellon Agreements”), which were effective as of April 1, 2020: (i) a Custody Agreement; (ii) a Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement; and (iii) a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. USCF pays the fees of BNY Mellon for its services under the BNY Mellon Agreements and such fees are determined by the parties from time to time.

Brokerage and Futures Commission Merchant Agreements

UNL entered into a brokerage agreement with RBC Capital Markets LLC (“RBC”) to serve as UNL’s FCM effective October 10, 2013.  UNL has engaged each of RCG Division of Marex Spectron (“RCG”), E D & F Man Capital Markets Inc. (“MCM”) and Macquarie Futures USA LLC (“MFUSA”) to serve as an additional FCM to UNL effective on May 28, 2020, June 5, 2020, and December 3, 2020, respectively. The agreements with UNL’s FCMs require the FCMs to provide services to UNL in connection with the purchase and sale of Natural Gas Futures Contracts and Other Natural Gas-Related Investments that may be purchased and sold by or through the applicable FCM for UNL’s account. In accordance with the FCM agreements, UNL pays each FCM commissions of approximately $7 to $8 per round-turn trade, including applicable exchange, clearing and NFA fees for Natural Gas Futures Contracts and options on Natural Gas Futures Contracts. Such fees include those incurred when purchasing Natural Gas Futures Contracts and options on Natural Gas Futures Contracts when UNL issues shares as a result of a Creation Basket, as well as fees incurred when selling Natural Gas Futures Contracts and options on Natural Gas Futures Contracts when UNL redeems shares as a result of a Redemption Basket. Such fees are also incurred when Natural Gas Futures Contracts and options on Natural Gas Futures Contracts are purchased or redeemed for the purpose of rebalancing the portfolio. UNL also incurs commissions to brokers for the purchase and sale of Natural Gas Futures Contracts, Other Natural Gas-Related Investments or short-term obligations of the United States of two years or less (“Treasuries”).

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Three months ended

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Three months ended

 

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March 31, 2022

    

March 31, 2021

 

Total commissions accrued to brokers

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$

2,187

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$

787

​

Total commissions as annualized percentage of average total net assets

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0.04

%

 

0.04

%

Commissions accrued as a result of rebalancing

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$

954

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$

426

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Percentage of commissions accrued as a result of rebalancing

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43.62

%

 

54.13

%

Commissions accrued as a result of creation and redemption activity

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$

1,233

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$

361

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Percentage of commissions accrued as a result of creation and redemption activity

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56.38

%

 

45.87

%

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The increase in total commissions accrued to brokers for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was due primarily to a higher number of natural gas futures contracts being held and traded.

NYMEX Licensing Agreement

UNL and NYMEX entered into a licensing agreement on December 4, 2007, as amended on October 20, 2011, whereby UNL was granted a non-exclusive license to use certain of the NYMEX’s settlement prices and service marks. Under the licensing agreement, UNL and the other Related Public Funds, other than BNO, USCI, and CPER, pay the NYMEX an asset-based fee for the license, the terms of which are described in Note 3. UNL expressly disclaims any association with the NYMEX or endorsement of UNL by the NYMEX and acknowledges that “NYMEX” and “New York Mercantile Exchange” are registered trademarks of the NYMEX.